Strong magnitude earthquake hits Peru on August 20, 2026

On August 20, 2026, a strong magnitude earthquake shook Peruvian territory in the afternoon. The seismic event caused panic among residents, who rushed out into the streets, and triggered landslides in the mountains of the affected region.

Epicenter and technical data of the tremor

According to the Geophysical Institute of Peru, the epicenter of the tremor occurred in the Upahuacho zone, specifically 35 kilometers north of Coracora, in Parinacochas, Ayacucho, at 1:00:16 PM. The depth recorded by the Peruvian entity was 108 kilometers. Due to this depth, the tremor was widely felt across various parts of the national territory. Other institutions, however, recorded different data: the Colombian Geological Survey and the United States Geological Survey reported a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 and a depth of approximately 67 kilometers.

Affected areas and citizen reports

The tectonic movement was felt most intensely in northern Arequipa, Ica, Abancay, and the capital, Lima. Residents in regions such as Cusco and Ilo also felt the tremor. Images and videos showed vehicles, infrastructure, and light poles swaying violently during the event. In the city of Coracora, near the epicenter, rocks and soil broke away from the high parts of the hills surrounding the area.

Response from local authorities

The head of the Geophysical Institute of Peru reported that the population rushed out onto the streets in fear, but without any initial critical incidents. The mayor of the urban center of Ayacucho stated that the inhabitants had moved to safety. Meanwhile, the mayor of the province of Parinacochas requested support from regional and national authorities, explaining that local buildings north of Coracora are mostly made of adobe and calamina, materials that are more fragile against tremors.

Monitoring and alerts in the region

The National Civil Defense Institute reported that the earthquake was felt from moderate to strong across several departments and maintained monitoring in vulnerable areas. The Colombian Maritime Authority, through the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, ruled out any tsunami alert or threat to the Colombian Pacific coast. Finally, the Geophysical Institute of Peru warned citizens to disregard fake news, reminding them that earthquakes cannot be scientifically predicted.

With information from El Colombiano.